Measure your current furniture to determine if there will be adequate walking space of at least 36 inches around furniture and clearance for doors to swing. Will the height of your furniture block windows? Does it provide enough wall space, nooks and areas for art and personal effects? Review the natural â€œtraffic flowâ€ of the house plan, the interior views from each room of the home as well as how natural lighting can be shared and utilized within the home.

The most common feature that people ask for when building a custom home is a basement. Having a whole extra floor in your house creates a lot more living space, without extending the footprint of the house itself. From adding extra bedrooms to creating a utility area or “man cave”, basements open up a wealth of options for what you can do with your new home. In most cases, adding a basement on to house plans is simple, so long as the soil in the area is up to standard.

House plans for flat building lots are less difficult and less expensive to build, although they are not always as eye-catching as a sloping lot. A sloping lot will allow you to tuck the garage under the house and possibly plan for a daylight basement.

Most people with home ownership dreams imagine a single-family dwelling in the suburbs. This situation allows for a number of perks, like a yard and the exterior space in which to build an addition, if necessary. However, things are a little different for people who choose to reside in an urban environment, where a typical single-family house just wouldn’t fit in on a crowded block. When room is at a premium, the only way to expand and maximize living space is upward. A multi-floor, brownstone-type plan can provide the same square footage in a vertical arrangement for those to wish to maintain a city lifestyle, but are ready to put apartments behind them. And while this arrangement does not include a personal little patch of the outdoors, chances are there are parks nearby.

If it isn’t, then don’t worry. There’s another simple modification to house plans that will also give you some extra space: adding a room over the garage. The great thing about this is that if the garage is separate from the main house, then the additional bedroom has a feeling of independence- perfect for older kids who don’t want their parents cramping their style!